Rutgers–New Brunswick Scholarships
First-Year Student Scholarship Award
First-year admitted students who apply by December 1 and are offered admission to at least one school at Rutgers–New Brunswick will be considered for a merit-based award.
With our single scholarship award process, one merit-based scholarship will be awarded to selected first-year admitted students based on a careful and comprehensive review of information provided on the student’s application including:
- the student’s first choice Rutgers–New Brunswick school
- the student’s academic strength and performance
- the student’s financial need
- overall competitiveness of the applicant pool (our scholarships are highly competitive)
- available funding
Scholarships are renewable provided the student maintains full-time enrollment status at their Rutgers–New Brunswick indicated school of interest; and meets the minimum academic criteria set for such scholarship. All renewal criteria are outlined in the award offer letter.
First-year merit award recipients may receive additional awards based on financial need. Scholarship and awards are contingent upon acceptance of admissions by May 1.
Scholarship recipients will be notified in early March by the Office of Financial Aid through their financial aid award.
To be considered: Apply to Rutgers and submit all required credentials by December 1. No separate application is required to receive this award.
*Mason Gross School of the Arts bases scholarship decisions on the artistic talent within their applicant pool and does not follow the single scholarship award process. All first-year students who apply to Mason Gross School of the Arts and complete a talent assessment (audition/interview/portfolio) are automatically considered for merit-based scholarships.
FAQs
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This year, first-year scholarship recipients will receive one merit-based scholarship award to their selected first choice Rutgers–New Brunswick school on their admissions application. This merit-based award offer is based on a number of factors including school interest, student’s academic strength and performance, financial need, the overall competitiveness of the applicant pool, and available funding. You can view our most current admissions profile here.
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Yes. Scholarship offers are released by March 1. Any scholarships awarded are included in the Financial Aid offer for the specific school of admission. First-year students may appeal their scholarship decision after scholarships are released. The appeal process opens early March and closes early April. Please note the scholarship appeal process for this year is now complete, and we are no longer accepting scholarship appeals for fall 2023 admitted students. Our scholarship appeal process is based on a comprehensive review of the student’s application, academic strength and performance, financial need, and the academic competitiveness of each individual student within the overall admitted applicant pool, and available funding. There is no guarantee a scholarship offer will change as a result of an appeal. Appeal instructions for fall 2024 admitted students will be available on our website in Spring 2024.
All eligible students are advised to submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or New Jersey Alternative Financial Aid Application (NJAFAA) for the greatest consideration for aid.
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Yes. As a first-year merit-based award recipient you may receive additional awards based on your financial need. Merit-based awards are contingent upon enrollment by May 1. Additional financial aid opportunities are contingent upon the completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Students are recommended to submit their FAFSA by December 1.
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You will still be considered for a scholarship at Rutgers–New Brunswick based on your first choice Rutgers–New Brunswick school selection, academic strength and performance, financial need, the overall competitiveness of the applicant pool, and available funding.
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Provided you follow the deferral guidelines and are not requesting an admission deferral for Mason Gross School of the Arts, you will maintain your scholarship offer for the following fall semester. Admission deferrals and scholarships for Mason Gross School of the Arts are not guaranteed. Applicants must reaudition or resubmit their portfolio for admission and scholarship review. Academic components of the application do not need to be resubmitted.
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Yes, if you maintain full-time enrollment status and meet the minimum criteria set for such scholarship, your scholarship will transfer with you to another Rutgers–New Brunswick school. All academic and scholarship renewal criteria are outlined in the award offer letter.
Note: This applies to merit scholarship recipients for Fall 2023 (and subsequent) first-year and transfer students. If you received a scholarship prior to Fall 2023, your scholarship transfer to another Rutgers–New Brunswick school would be up to the discretion of the school you wish to transfer into.
Mason Gross School of the Arts bases scholarship decisions on the artistic talent within their applicant pool. If you are enrolled at Mason Gross School of the Arts, received a scholarship, and wish to transfer to another Rutgers–New Brunswick school, scholarship transfer approval will be required by the school you wish to transfer into. If you received a scholarship from another Rutgers–New Brunswick school and wish to transfer into the Mason Gross School of the Arts, your scholarship transfer will be contingent upon approval from Mason Gross.
National Merit Scholarships/College-Sponsored Merit Award
Rutgers is a sponsoring institution for students selected by the National Merit Scholarship Committee to receive the College-Sponsored Merit Scholarship Award ($1,000 per year, renewable). This award is valid for four years of undergraduate study with a minimum 3.0 cumulative grade-point average.
To Be Considered
- National Merit finalists must designate Rutgers University as their first choice on the National Merit Scholarship application.
Class Endowed Scholarships
Rutgers offers several endowed scholarships ($500–$5,000 per year) funded by the generosity of alumni donors. Scholarships may be offered to descendants of the following class years: 1940, 1941, 1949, 1970, 1978, 1982, 1983, and the Rutgers College Class of 1980. Scholarships and scholarship amounts are based on available funds. Not all awards are renewable. Scholarship awards are based on criteria which includes academic credentials. Recipients are notified in July.
To Be Considered
- Email a request at scholarships@admissions.rutgers.edu by May 1, and include your name, RUID, and the name of the Rutgers alumnus as well as his/her Rutgers school, year of graduation, and your relationship to the alumnus.
Theodore J. and F. Elizabeth Kirsch Southern California Scholarship
The Theodore J. and F. Elizabeth Kirsch Southern California endowed scholarship may be offered to first-year students who reside and attend public high school in the California communities of San Jose, San Mateo, and Palm Desert. Scholarship and scholarship amounts are based upon available funds and are renewable. Scholarship recipients are notified in July.
To Be Considered
- First-year admitted students must reside and attend public high school in the California communities of San Jose, San Mateo, and Palm Desert.
- File a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by December 1.
Transfer Student Scholarships
Rutgers offers scholarships to a select number of admitted transfer students. Transfer student scholarships are competitive awards and are based on the academic strength and prowess of individual applicants, the overall strength of our applicant pool, and available funding.
Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship
Phi Theta Kappa scholarship ($8,000 per year) recipients are notified beginning in December (for spring enrollment) and April (for fall enrollment).
Criteria for consideration are specific so please review carefully:
- Students must be enrolled full-time in a transfer program at a community college at the time of application.
- Students must be a member of their community college’s Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society at the time of application.
- Students must have completed at least 45 credits at the time of applying to Rutgers.
- Students must earn an associate’s degree in arts or science by the time of enrollment.
- Recipients traditionally have between a 3.9 and 4.0 cumulative grade-point average in all completed college courses, as well as a minimum 3.8 cumulative grade-point average from all previous colleges attended.
- No separate application is required. We will consider admitted transfer applicants who:
- Apply to Rutgers–New Brunswick via the Rutgers Application Portal by October 1 for spring admission, or by February 1 for fall admission.
- All required credentials must be submitted by the same application due date.
Francis B. and Paige D. L'Hommedieu Scholarship
Francis B. and Paige D. L’Hommedieu Scholarship ($1,750–$3,500 per year) awards are based upon available funds. Scholarship recipients are notified in July for fall enrollment.
Criteria for consideration are specific so please review carefully:
- Student must enroll directly from the associate degree-granting New Jersey community college, with no intervening enrollment at another institution.
- Student must have earned an associate’s degree in arts or science by June 1 and have a minimum 3.8 cumulative grade-point average for consideration. Grades from all college courses are considered. Scholarships are competitive awards and based on the academic strength of individual applicants, the overall strength of our applicant pool, and available funding.
- Student must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident at the time of application.
- No separate application is required. We will consider admitted transfer applicants who:
- Apply to Rutgers–New Brunswick via the Rutgers Application Portal by February 1 for fall admission.
- All required credentials must be submitted by the same application due date.
NJ STARS II
The New Jersey Student Tuition Assistance Reward Scholarship (NJ STARS) II is a continuation of NJ STARS and provides eligible NJ STARS students attending NJ community colleges with funding (up to $1,250 per semester) to transfer to a NJ four-year university to earn a bachelor’s degree. Please review the information provided by the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA) for full details about NJ STARS II eligibility requirements.
- Participation in NJ STARS does not guarantee admission to Rutgers.
- Students must have participated in NJ STARS at a New Jersey community college.
- Eligible students may receive the NJ STARS II award for up to four consecutive semesters, excluding summer sessions.
- All potentially eligible students must submit a final official transcript certifying the receipt of an associate’s degree with date of completion to the Office of University Undergraduate Admissions Operations Center.
- The transfer of academic credits from the community college to Rutgers is governed by the policies and procedures set forth in the statewide transfer agreement.
- NJ STARS II is operated at the discretion of the State of New Jersey. Renewal is based upon continued eligibility and available funding.
International Student Scholarships
All admitted international students (on valid non-immigrant visas) are automatically considered for Rutgers international scholarships. No separate application is required. International students who wish to be considered for scholarships are encouraged to apply by either the early action or regular action application due dates. Given the limited availability, early applicants are more likely to be awarded scholarships. Scholarships range from $5,000–$16,000 per year.
The majority of international students support their undergraduate education through family, private, government or other funds. Some of the most academically accomplished international applicants to Rutgers may be offered scholarships. The process is very competitive as a limited number of scholarships are available each year.
Notification of scholarships is sent after an offer of admission. Scholarships are awarded for a total of four years of undergraduate education, and recipients will be expected to maintain a minimum of a 3.25 grade-point average.
Scholarship for DREAMers
Rutgers is proud to be a Partner College of TheDream.US. As a Partner College, DREAMers are able to attend our university using the scholarship funds provided by TheDream.US.
We are committed to DREAMers’ success. Please visit TheDream.US for National Scholarship eligibility requirements and application guidelines.